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Saudi Arabia mosque bombing: Two volunteer security guards hailed as heroes for stopping Isis suicide bomber reaching worshippers | Saudi Arabia mosque bombing: Two volunteer security guards hailed as heroes for stopping Isis suicide bomber reaching worshippers |
(7 months later) | |
Two young men who reportedly stopped an Isis suicide bomber entering a mosque in Saudi Arabia are being hailed as heroes after being killed when he blew himself up. | Two young men who reportedly stopped an Isis suicide bomber entering a mosque in Saudi Arabia are being hailed as heroes after being killed when he blew himself up. |
The friends, named as Mohammed Hassan Ali bin Isa and Abdul-Jalil al-Arbash, died after reportedly turning the attacker away from the Imam Hussein mosque in Dammam today. | The friends, named as Mohammed Hassan Ali bin Isa and Abdul-Jalil al-Arbash, died after reportedly turning the attacker away from the Imam Hussein mosque in Dammam today. |
Eyewitnesses claim the man was disguised as a woman and tried to enter through a closed female entrance before going to the main gate, where the pair were manning a civilian checkpoint. | Eyewitnesses claim the man was disguised as a woman and tried to enter through a closed female entrance before going to the main gate, where the pair were manning a civilian checkpoint. |
“They saved a lot of lives by stopping the bomber from getting inside the mosque,” a local man, who asked to remain anonymous, told Middle East Eye. “They are both heroes.” | “They saved a lot of lives by stopping the bomber from getting inside the mosque,” a local man, who asked to remain anonymous, told Middle East Eye. “They are both heroes.” |
Mohammed Idris, an eyewitness, told the Associated Press that Mohammed and Abdul-Jalil chased the bomber away and died when he detonated the explosives in the mosque car park. | Mohammed Idris, an eyewitness, told the Associated Press that Mohammed and Abdul-Jalil chased the bomber away and died when he detonated the explosives in the mosque car park. |
“They chased the suicide bomber when he tried to enter the women's section of the mosque in the south entrance,” he added. | |
Abdul-Jalil was reportedly 25 and had recently returned from studying at university in the US, getting married just days ago. | |
One of the men’s mothers, Kowther al-Arbash, is a high-profile writer for Saudi newspaper al-Jazira, Middle East Eye reported. | One of the men’s mothers, Kowther al-Arbash, is a high-profile writer for Saudi newspaper al-Jazira, Middle East Eye reported. |
Photos of the pair were circulating on social media today, with people calling them heroes and “martyrs”. | Photos of the pair were circulating on social media today, with people calling them heroes and “martyrs”. |
Videos also emerged claiming to show the fathers of both men praising their sons' heroism. | Videos also emerged claiming to show the fathers of both men praising their sons' heroism. |
A video from inside the al-Anoud mosque showed the moment the explosion was heard outside, with prayers being interrupted by a huge blast that shook the building, causing people to jump to their feet and shout in the ensuing panic. | A video from inside the al-Anoud mosque showed the moment the explosion was heard outside, with prayers being interrupted by a huge blast that shook the building, causing people to jump to their feet and shout in the ensuing panic. |
Security had been stepped up at mosques across Saudi Arabia after a similar Isis bombing that killed 21 people at a mosque in Qatif on 22 May. | Security had been stepped up at mosques across Saudi Arabia after a similar Isis bombing that killed 21 people at a mosque in Qatif on 22 May. |
Saudi religious authorities had asked women them to keep away from mosques during Friday prayers because of fears of a repeat attack and the lack of female security staff able to search them. | Saudi religious authorities had asked women them to keep away from mosques during Friday prayers because of fears of a repeat attack and the lack of female security staff able to search them. |
The advice possibly led to the closure of the entrance that the bomber initially tried to use in Dammam. | The advice possibly led to the closure of the entrance that the bomber initially tried to use in Dammam. |
The Saudi Press Agency claimed that government “security authorities” were responsible for foiling the terrorist attack. | The Saudi Press Agency claimed that government “security authorities” were responsible for foiling the terrorist attack. |
Isis claimed responsibility on a Facebook page used by its followers, naming the bomber as Abu Jandal al-Jazrawi and calling him a “soldier of the caliphate”. | Isis claimed responsibility on a Facebook page used by its followers, naming the bomber as Abu Jandal al-Jazrawi and calling him a “soldier of the caliphate”. |
The Sunni extremist group has repeatedly called for attacks Shia Muslims in Saudi Arabia, which is part of the US-led coalition conducting air strikes against the group in Syria and is providing training to fighters battling the extremists. | The Sunni extremist group has repeatedly called for attacks Shia Muslims in Saudi Arabia, which is part of the US-led coalition conducting air strikes against the group in Syria and is providing training to fighters battling the extremists. |
Additional reporting by agencies | Additional reporting by agencies |